Bucket for transporting concrete or the like



Dec. 11, 1951 L. J. SAROSDY BUCKET FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE OR THE LIKE 2 Sl-iEETS-Sl-IEET 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1948 INVENTOR LOUIS J. SAROSDY Dec. 11, 1951 1. 1 11-1105011 2,577,922

BUCKET FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1948 2 mars-$111111 2 INVENTOR Louns J. SAROSDY Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE BUCKET FOR TRANSPORTING CONCRETE OR THE LIKE Louis J. Sarosdy, Pittsburgh, Pa.., assignor to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bucket for trans.- porting concrete or the like. More particularly it relates to a bucket which can readily be discharged. It is particularly useful for handling large quantities of relatively stiff concrete mixes but can be used for handling other materials with generally similar properties.

The loading, transportation and discharging of large capacity concrete buckets through bottom discharge openings has long been employed. United States Patent No. 2,013,306 issued September S, 1935, shows -a type of-ooncrete bucket heretofore used for such purposes. Such buckets usually have been funnel-shaped with the lowerportions of the interior surface thereof converging toward the discharge opening at the bottom. At the time of discharge, even when the closure gate thereon was fully open, it was frequently found that the mix would arch or bridge across the discharge opening and prevent the quick or complete emptying of the bucket. This difficulty is most acute in the handling of aerated concrete as is now frequently specified, and although vibration devices have been employed, they did not solve this difficulty.

In the present invention, a concrete bucket is provided in which the interior surfaces are asymmetrical. That is, the more or less regular and symmetrical funnel-shape is dispensed with by the employment, in a .preferred embodiment of this invention, of a single sloping side extending to one edge of the discharge opening and with the remaining three sides of the rectangular concrete bucket or container extending straight down to form the remaining three edges of the discharge opening thereof at the bottom. :In addition, instead of having the discharge opening lying in a horizontal plane as has heretofore been customary, I tilt the plane of the opening away from the horizontal. I also provide substantial and positive closure means for opening and closing the discharge opening at the proper times by the use of compressed air lines and pneumatic cylinders to afford remote or close control as desired. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment of my invention, the structural frame of the bucket or container is so arranged that two of them can be connected back-to-back in symmetrical tandem relationship to achieve a completely balanced load-carrying double bucket. Tandem embodiment has linkage means to synchronize the operation of the closure members as is more fully described below.

Other and further objects of this invention will bea parent from thefollowing description of the ill single and double bucket embodiments of my invention illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred em.- bodiment of a single bucket or container of my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section taken on line s-.3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a double bucket embodying my invention in which two s ngle buckets are connected'back-to-back in tandem.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, there is shown a rectangular concrete bucket or container it having sheet steel sides I I which are normally vertical in loading, carrying and discharging positions. The bucket it is completed. by a vertical front sheet steel side I3 and a sheet steel back I4. These sides are welded together along the ad.- joining edges. Horizontal strengthening members I5 reinforce the sheets. These members L5 are usually mitered at the corners and are welded both to the sides of the container and to one another to complete the integral structure. The

bucket itself is held in a structural frame comprising the horizontal connected channel irons it around the base thereof, the vertical channel irons I1 extending vertically along and spaced somewhat away from the sides I I, and the sup porting bars I8 around the periphery of the bucket II] at the top thereof. The frame is strengthened and the gate structure subsequently described herein is shielded by a pair of guard plates Ilia which extend generally-parallel to the side plates I I and adjacent the channels H from the base channels I6, at the bottom to the stiffeners I5; these guard plates being welded to the channelslb and ii and bent inwardly to.- wards and welded to the stifieners i 5 at their ,upper ends. The plates Ila are substantially of the same width as the sides I I. The upper flanges of the channel irons Ifiat the sides of the bucketare cut out to permit the side channel irons I] to extend the full height of the bucket. These side channel irons I I are welded or otherwise fastenedto the frame structure at the bottom of the bucket and are spaced from the side bars it at the top of the bucket by stud bolts I9 and nuts ,20 having spacing collars 2I thereon. A conventional bail (not shown) is aflixed by passing the stud bolts I9 and collars 2i through eyes at the lower ends of the bail to permit the bucket to be carried by a crane hook. When, however, two buckets are to be arranged in tandem to form a double ucket. ke 22. as sho n in igure @11 chain lines is fastened to each side of each bucket by the respective stud bolt, collar and nut arrangement I9, and 2| Such yokes are spaced respectively from the sides I l and the side channel irons I! of each bucket by the channels 23 which usually are integral with each yoke although they may be separate.

Within the bucket II] at the back I4 thereof and extending from a point about three-quarters of the way down, there is a sloping interior surface member or baffle 24 extending to a discharge opening 25 of the bucket and forming the back edge 26 thereof. The front edge 21 of the discharge opening is formed by the front [3 of the bucket which extends from the top of the bucket to a point above the rear edge 26 of the discharge opening 25. Thus the discharge opening 25 is defined by rear edge 26, the front edge 2! and the arcuately cut portions of the vertical side plates ll. Strengthening bars 28 are welded or riveted across the front I3 and along the sides ii outside of such members to add reinforcement support to the bucket around the discharge opening area.

The discharge opening 25 is a cylindrical arc tilted upwardly from the rear edge 25 towards the front edge 21. It is closed by a gate structure which includes a pair of generally vertical gatesides 29 disposed between the plates II and Ila on each side of the bucket and supported upon hinge pins 30 which are located on an axis substantially concentric with the cylindrical are defining the opening 25. Each hinge pin 30 is supported at its ends by bracket plates 3| and bracket channels 32, respectively aflixed to the channel irons l1 and sides II as shown. The hinge pins 30 are located intermediate the top and bottom of the bucket on a horizontal axial line parallel to and spaced from the median plane of the bucket, preferably such that the axis lies entirely to the side of the opening 25 somewhat beyond the rear edge 26; i. e., directly above the sloping surface 24. Between the gate-sides 29, along their lower edges, extends a series of closely spaced parallel rollers 33, the rollers being'rotatably mounted on journals supported in the gatesides 29, on axes equidistant from the hinge pins 30 and radially spaced from the edge of the opening 25 for the interposition of the flexible apron 49 subsequently to be described. In the figures the roller gate is shown in closed position but it is apparent that it opens and closes the discharge opening on being rotated bodily about the hinge pins 30.

At the upper end of each gate-side there are two bearing bosses 34 equidistant from the pivot bearing 30, which bosses are for linkage connection when two buckets are connected in tandem.

Intermediate the pivot bearing 30 and the lowermost portion of the gate-side 29 there is a tubular beam 35 which connects the two gatesides across the front of each bucket ID. This connecting member has Web plates 36 welded to the gate-sides and to the beam for purpose of lending rigidity and strength thereto. The center of the beam 35 has an upstanding lug 31 which is pivotally aflixed to the lower forked end 38 of a pneumatic piston rod 39. The piston rod 39 is actuated by a double-acting cylinder 40 mounted in trunnion bearings 4| centrally of the front of the bucket near the top thereof. A guard cover 42a surrounds the pneumatic cylinder 40 and furnishes the journal openings for the trunnion bearings 4|. Actuation of the cylinder is obtained by compressed air lines 42 having flexible extensions 43. These air lines 42 extend down one of the side channel irons I! as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and terminate beneath a guard 44 at which point air may be supplied to the lines 42 as shown by the arrow 45. In Figure 1 the further continuation of the lines 42 is for the purpose of supplying air to a second bucket when two buckets are connected in tandem. Otherwise, the lines are blanked off when the connections to the single bucket are complete.

Extending outwardly from the front side l3 of the bucket I!) a short distance above the front edge 21 of the discharge opening 25 there is a. bracket 48 to which a flexible apron 49 is secured by a clamp 50. The flexible apron 49 is made of heavy material like rubberized fabric and hangs between the edge 21 of the discharge opening and the rollers 33 when the roller gate is open. In closing, the rollers press the flexible apron firmly against the four edges of the discharge opening. Since there is little clearance between the top of the roller gate and the edges of the discharge opening 25 for the flexible apron 49, the roller gate during closing rolls the flexible apron into relatively tight engagement with the edges of the discharge opening 25. The apron 49 is long enough to extend from its fixed upper end across the entire discharge opening, terminating in a free end just beyond the end of the roller gate when in closed position.

When two buckets are placed back-to-back as shown in Figure 4, they may be connected by the yoke and channels 22 and 23 as previously described, the yokes 22 on the respective sides of the two buckets each having an ear 5| to which a suitable bail (not shown) is attached for carrying the double bucket. The lower parts of the buckets are connected by connecting members 32 either permanently or by temporary bolt or clamping means.

In order to have the gates of the two buckets operate in synchronism, a link 53 connects each set of gate-sides 29 on the same side of the two buckets. This link 53 connects the upper pivotal boss 34 on one gate-sides with the lower pivotal boss 34 on the gate-sides on the other bucket. By this means any irregularity in the operation of the pneumatic cylinder 40 for both is automatically compensated. Also, if one closure means should jam, the effective force of both cylinders 43 acts to overcome the difliculty.

It will be observed from Figure 1 that the cylinder 40 does not oscillate through any substantial angle about the pivot 4| and that the enclosure 42a for the cylinder may therefore be small. Furthermore, as the gate is opened the extreme position of the rollers 33 parallels the side l3 at a distance not substantially exceeding the width of the casing 42a. This is due largely to the position of the hinge pins 30 with respect to the centerline of the bucket and the relative location of the lug 31 to which the piston rod 39 is connected; the lug 31 being disposed at an elevation a substantial distance above the extreme end roller 33 in the roller-gate structure and moving through an are between extreme positions substantially in vertical alignment.

The plate 24 is particularly useful when two buckets are used in tendem. The buckets are placed back-to-back with the plates 24 diverging with respect to each other. Concrete discharged from the two buckets is discharged in two piles. Each single bucket can contain as much concrete as is permitted to be discharged in a single pile. The tandem arrangement, however, permitsthe transportation and simultaneous discharge of a double load. If only a single bucket is used the plate 24 can be eliminated and the roller gate and apron extended in length to the bottom edge of the side I4.

While the closure means described have been those employing the roller gate type of closure. a sliding or other shear type of closure may also be employed. Hinged or other closures operating either in a direction normal to the plane of the discharge opening or pivotally with respect to the discharge opening, may also be employed.

It will thus be recognized that I have provided a bucket or container for handling construction concrete or the like which can be quickly and completely discharged without bridging of the material even if the material is stiff aerated concrete. I have also provided a bucket which can readily be arranged in tandem with another similar bucket to double the capacity.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bucket for transporting concrete or the like, comprising, substantially vertical planar side members and substantially vertical planar front and back members, said members being substantially vertically joined to form a body for said bucket generally rectangular in horizontal cross section, said body being open at the top and at the bottom respectively for charging and discharging, said front member having a straight horizontal bottom edge, said bucket further having a straight horizontal bottom back edge, said side members having parallel bottom edges extending downwardly and rearwardly from said first-mentioned bottom edge and substantially defining the discharge opening at the bottom of said body, said parallel bottom edges further being arcuate in a vertical plane about a hinge axis normal to and rearwardly of the vertical center line of said side members, a sheartype gate closure for said discharge opening pivoted about said hinge axis and extending around the exterior of said side members and said front member, and a fluid-actuated cylinder pivotally mounted on the exterior of the front of said body above said first-mentioned bottom edge for opening and closing said gate closure, said cylinder being connected to said gate closure.

2. A bucket for transporting concrete or the like, comprising, substantially vertical planar side members and substantially vertical planar front and back members, said members being substantially vertically joined to form a body for said bucket generally rectangular in horizontal cross section, said body being open at the top and at the bottom respectively for charging and discharging, said front member having a straight horizontal bottom edge, a planar bafile joined to the inside of said back member a substantial distance up the height thereof and extending between the interior surfaces of said side members, said baflle sloping downwardly and forwardly and terminating in a straight horizontal bottom edge lower than and parallel to said first-mentioned bottom edge, said side members having parallel bottom edges extending downwardly and rearwardly from said first-mentioned bottom edge to said second-mentioned bottom edge, said parallel bottom edges further being arcuate in a vertical plane about a hinge axis normal to and rearwardly of the vertical center line of said side members, all of said bottom edges respectively defining an inclined discharge opening at the bottom of said body, a shear-type gate closure for said discharge opening pivoted about said hinge axis and extending around the exterior of said side members and said front member, and a fluid-actuated cylinder pivotally mounted on the exterior of the front of said body above said first-mentioned bottom edge for opening and closing said gate closure, said cylinder being connected to said gate closure.

A double capacity bucket for transporting concrete or the like, comprising, two single buckets placed back-to-back, each single bucket comprising a body generally rectangular in crosssection having a charging opening substantially across the entire top thereof and a discharge opening across a substantial portion of t--e bottom thereof, said discharge opening being tilted upwardly from the rear toward the front of said bucket, a shear-type gate closure for said discharge opening extending around the sides and front of said body and pivoted about a hinge axis normal to said sides, means on the front of said body and above said discharge opening to open and close said gate closure, a yoke extending between and connected respectively to the bodies of said buckets, and a rigid link respectively connected to each of said gate closures adjacent to their respective hinge axes and on opposite sides of a line connecting said hinge axes.

4. In combination, in a bucket assembly for transporting concrete or the like, at least one charging opening extending substantially across the top of said bucket assembly, said bucket assembly having a plurality of spaced discharge openings in the bottom thereof, a shear-type gate closure for each of said discharge openings, each of said gate closures being pivoted about its resspective hinge, said hinges being parallel to each other, fluid-actuated cylinders mounted on opposite sides of said bucket assembly above said discharge openings and connected to said gate closures respectively, said cylinders being pivoted about axes parallel to the axes of said hinges to operate said gate closures, and a rigid link respectively connected to each of said gate closures, said link being vertically offset from said hinges such that said link moves bodily transversely with respect to the vertical center line of said bucket assembly to maintain the operation of said gate closures in synchronism.

LOUIS J. SAROSDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 815,823 Hetzel et al. Mar. 20, 1906 934,294 Doud Sept. 14, 1909 1,062,613 Smith May 27, 1913 1,281,570 Hodge Oct. 15, 1918 1,923,678 Lowell Aug. 22, 1933 2,013,306 Harrington Sept. 3, 1935 2,217,283 Lorrin Oct. 8, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 588,939 Germany Dec. 1, 1933 407,535 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1934 

